Cremating-furnace.



No. 771,412 PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. H. E. BRETT & A. B. BENTON.

GREMATING FURNACE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7, 1901.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 771,412 r PATENTED OUT. 4, 1904. H. E. BRETT & A. B. BENTON..

GREMATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED 1am, 1901.

.NO MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/Wesse s No. 771,412 PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. H. E. BRETT & A. B. BENTON.

GREMATING FURNACE.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 7, 1901? 6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 771,412 PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. H. E. BRETT & A. B. BENTON.

CREMATING FURNACE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 771,412 w I PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. H. B. BRETT & A. B. BENTON.

GREMATING FURNACE.

No L. APPLICATION FILED 170V. 7, 1901.

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mull m "H" 1111x11 @VyQ/M mam No. 771,412 PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904. H. E.BRETT & A. B. BENTON.

OREMA'IING FURNACE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7, 1901. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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No. 771,412. Patented October 4, 1904.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. BRETT AND ARTHUR B. BENTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFOR- NIA,ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM LE MOYNE VILLS, OF LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA.

CREMATlNG-FURNACE.

SPECII IFICA TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,412, datedOctober 4:, 1904.

Application filed November 7-, 1901. Serial No. 81,509. (No model.)

T all 107w"?! it 6 7] (WWWYIIF view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7isa Be it known that we, HENRY E. BRETT and sectional view ofamoditiedconstruction,taken ARTHUR B. BENTON, both citizens of the on line 7 7 ofFig. 8. Fig. 8 is a horizontal United States, both residing at LosAngeles, sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

5 in the county of Los Angeles and State of Gali- Fig. 9 is a detailview of the mask or outside fornia, have invented a new and usefulCrefurnace door. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a mating-Furnace, of whichthe following is a portion of the frame thereof. Fig. 11 is adespecitication. tail view of a portion of the outside or mask 55 Thisinvention relates to furnaces, and pardoor. Fig. 12 is a detail view ofa portion of IO ticularly to cremating-furnaces; and some of the frontdoor, illustrating the roller and closthe objects of the invention areto provide a ing-arms. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view constructionof this general character which of the peep-hole in the furnace-doors.Fig. will not be expensive in erection, will be du- 14 is an enlargeddetail view of an air-damper rable in service, and will be easily andcheaply employed. Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail view 5 operated. r ofthe elements employed in the construc- Another object of the inventionis to protion. Fig. 16 is a cross-section of the furvide for thedisposition of human bodies in an nace cutting the openings which leadfrom efficient, rapid, and economical manner,cornthe fire-chambers 61and 62 to the incinerating- 5 pletely consuming all of the gases evolvedchamber and to the space above the latter, re

20 from the body during the process of burning. spectively, looking inthe direction of the It is also an object of this invention to pro wall63 with the ash-pan omitted; and Fig. 17 vide for the use of liquid orgaseous fuel, but is a similar View of the modified construction also byslight modification permit the use of with the ash-pan omitted. 7 solidfuel. Similar characters of reference designate 5 Furthermore, anobjectof this invention is corresponding parts throughout the several toprovide for the handling of the bodies of views.

the dead and their ashes after cremation with Referring to the drawings,and preferably due respect without subjecting them to indigto Figs. 1 to6 and 9 to 15 thereof, the refer- 75 nities or doing violence to thefeelings of surence character 1 designates a wall or partition 3 vivorsor spectators. erected in front of the furnace proper and in lVith theseand other objects in view the in which an opening 2 may be constructedfor vention consists, essentially, in the construethe passage of thebody to be cremated, it betion, combination,and arrangement ofparts, ingunderstood that a chapel or receptionsubstantially as more fullydescribed in the room desirably adjoins the wall 1,and anchoredfollowing specification and illustrated in the in the wall 1 around theopeningQ is a frame 3, accompanying drawings, forming part of this Figs.1, 4, 9, and 10, constructed to receive a application, in which facingor finishing plate 4, preferably curved Figure 1 is a horizontal sectionthrough the or rounded to prevent the formation of cor- 8 5 incineratingand fire chambers. Fig. 2 is a ners or edges and to facilitate theintroduc- 4 front elevational view of the furnace with tion of the bodyinto the furnace, as well as the partition-wall removed and with otherto make a finish around the opening through parts omitted. Fig. 3 is aview taken on which the furnace-door maybe removed upon line 3 3 of Fig.1 with one of the burners detaching said plate 4. 9 and the ash-panomitted; Fig. 4 is a longi- Preferably secured upon the inside of thetudinal central section taken on line 4 4 of frame 3 is a brace 5,attached at either end to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view ofthe sides of the frame 3 and having secured the furnace.Fig.6isalongitudinal sectional upon either side thereof guides or ways6,

Figs. 1 and 10, said brace serving as a stop or rest for the bottomofthe door 7, sliding in said ways.

The outside or mask door preferably embodies a frame 8, Fig. 11, overwhich is secured a sheet of material 9, preferably brass, desirablysurmounted by a lining 10, of asbestos or like substance, the same beingretained in position by a retaining-frame 11, substantially as shown insaid figure. The door 7may be provided with a chain or cable 12, Fig. 4,carrying a counterweight 13 and passing over a sheave or roller 15 uponthe wall 1 above the opening 2 and over a sheave or roller 16, carriedby a standard or support 17' upon the rear of the furnace, and by meansof this construction the view of the furnace proper can be quickly andeasily cut off as soon as the remains shall have passed beyond the wall1 during the introduction of the same intothe furnace, and the heat ispractically excluded from the anteroom or chapel by means of anair-space surrounding the furnace proper,

throughwhich a current of cool air is caused topass and by reasonof theconstruction of themask-door.

The furnace proper preferably embodies an outer wall or structure 18,braced by. buckstaves 19,and rods 20, while the front wall21 and rearwall 22 are desirably provided with angle-irons 23, and the front wall21 is preferably provided with an induction-opening 24, surrounded by ametallic frame 25, having guides or ways 26, constructed to, receive abrick-lined sliding door 27, preferably provided with a peep-hole orslide 28, through which the process of cremation can be observed, and itwill be understood that the opening 2,in the wall 1 and the opening 24in the wall 21 will coincide or register, so that the remains canbereadily introduced into the furnace proper.

Mounted in standards or arms 29 upon the door-frame is an antifrictiondevice or roller 30, constructed to receive and facilitate theintroduction of the casket or. remains into the furnace, and dependingclosing and directing arms 31 are preferably mounted upon the ends ofthe roller-shaft 32 and are constructed with bifurcated ends toreceiveguide-pins 33,,carrying springs 34 to, force the ends of saidarmsagainst the door, Figs. 2 and 12.

Mounted upon the front wall 21 is a frame 35, supporting sheaves orrollers 36 and 37, over which passes a chain or cable 38, carrying acounterweight 39, having a chain or cable 40 connected therewith andpassing over a;winch 41, Figs. 1 and 2, operated by a shaft 42, mountedin a bearing 43 upon the wall 1 and in a bracket 44 upon thewall 18 andcarrying a crank 45, by means of which the winch 41 is rotated to windthe chain or cable 40 thereon and raise the furnace-door 27, which maybe connected withsaid chain or cable 38 by bars or rods 46, Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, and the winch-shaft 42may be provided with a ratchetand pawl 47 to prevent the accidental reverse movement of the shaft.

Within the outside wall 18, and preferably at a slight distancetherefrom, so as to constitute a dead-air chamber therebetween, is alining 48, of. fire-brick or other refractory material, to withstand theintense heat to which the interior construction is subjected, preferablyhaving an arched roof 49, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, and an extension 50 ispreferably provided, passing through the rear wall and adapted to beclosed by a brick-lined door 51, slidably mounted in ways or guides 52and connected with a counterweighted chain or cable 53, passing oversheaves or rollers 54 and 55 upon a. support or frame 56, secured uponthe rear wall of the furnace, and alockbar, 57 may be employed to securethe rear door 51 in a closed position, the same being only used to gain,access. to the incinerating and ash chambers, Figs. 1, 4, and 5, of thedrawings.

The incinerating-chamber 58, Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 6, preferably occupiesthe centralportion of the furnace, and access is affordedthereto bymeans of the front andrear doors 27 and 51 of the furnace, through theformer whereof the remains areintroduced into the incinerating-chamber,which is preferablyconstructed with an arched roof 59, that forms, withthe furnace-roof 49iand thewalls 60, a flue forthe flame of theleft-hand burner, said flame passing through the fire-chamber 62 againstthe break-wall 63, of checked brick,

.atthe front end of the fire-chamber, where the flame is retarded anddivided, and passes up through an opening inthe wall 60.to said flue orpassage again to the rear of the furnace after traversing and heatingthe roof of the incinerating-chamber.

The walls 60 between the incineratingchamber 58 and the fire-chambers61. and 62 are preferably constructed of, tiles 64, of re fractorymaterial, Figs. 1 and 15,,having a flange or rabbet 65, adapted to enterrecesses or grooves 66 in blocks 67, whereby athin wallof great strengthand rigidity is produced andone capable of enduring a great amountvofheat without injury.

The floor or bottom of the incineratingchamber 58 is desirably providedwith openings 68, Figs. 1 and 4, to permit the ashes from the consumedremains to, fall therethrough into a pan or receptacle 69 in theashchamber 70, desirably located directly below theincinerating-chamber.However, the ashpan may be dispensed with, and the ashes may falldirectly into the ash-chamber andvbe re moved therefrom by. means of asuitable brush.

Preferably arranged directly beneath the ash-chamber 70 is acombustion-chamber 71,

preferably separated therefrom by'a wall or partition 72, Fig. 4:,forming the bottom or floor of the chamber andextending as far back asthe end of the incinerating-chamber 58, so as to leave a vertical flueor passage 73, through which the flame or heated medium passes into theupper combustion-chamber 71, after having traversed the roof or ceilingof the incineratingchamber, as before described,,and after passingthrough the upper combustion-chamber the heated medium passes into andthrough the lower combustionchamber 7 3, into a flue 7 1, to the stackor chimney. Thus the flame or heated medium passes from the left-handburner at the rear of the fire-chamber 62 therethrough to the front ofthe furnace, thence through an opening 65, Fig. 1, in the wall 60 intothe flue above the incinerating-chamber, passing over and heating theroof or ceiling thereof, again to the rear of the furnace, thencedownwardly passing the rear end of the incinerating-chamber 58, throughthe flue 73, into the upper combustion-chamber 71, along that and thelower combustion-chamber to the flue 7 4E, and to the chimney.

The construction of the furnace is preferably such that all of the gasesproduced in the fire and incinerating chambers pass to thecombustion-chambers, where they are entirely consumed.

Beneath thefire-chambers 61 and 62 and on each side of thecombustion-chambers 71 and 73 are large warming-chambers or airducts 75and 76, separated by arches 77 from the lower air-ducts 78 or 79, thelatter whereof desirably communicate at 80 with fresh-air passages orconduits 81, Figs. 1 and 3, so that the fresh air passes in through thepassages 81, preferably on each side of the rear of the furnace, thencesuccessively along the air-ducts 79 and 76 upon the right side of thefurnace, wherein are transversely disposed radiator-tubes 82, having thelarge open ends thereof exposed to the flame and heat of thecombustion-chambers 71 and 7 3 and which tubes warm the incoming freshair, thus rendering the furnace largely regenerative and attainingeconomy of fuel by returning to the fire-chambers a portion of the wasteheat, which, would otherwise escape up the chimney. Also a bettercombustion of fuel results from this heated draft than would be the casewith a cold draft.

From the upper warming-chamber or airduct 76 the warmed fresh air passesupwardly through the damper 83, Figs. 6 and 14, and the aperturedpartition 8 L into the rear end of the fire-chamber 61, and just belowthe burner 85, Fig. 6, having suitable supply connections 87, Fig. 5,and preferably provided with steam or compressed-air supply connections88 to spray or atomize the heating agent employed if the latter consistsof crude or distilled oil; but it will be understood that the burnersmay be of any desired number and type, and any kind of fuel may be used.Also suitable cocks, valves, or other necessary devices may be employedto regulate the respective quantity of oil and steam or air.

A transverse flue 89, Figs. 1 and 6, is preferably located across therear end of the furnace proper, terminating beneath the burners, so thatthe fresh air entering through the passages 81 of the furnace aftertraversing and being heated in the air-ducts or warmingchambers 75 and78 on said side is conveyed or conducted across the end of the furnacein sufficient quantity to equalize the combustion or demand upon eachside of the furnace, a damper 83 being located upon each side of thefurnace.

The chimney-draft is preferably regulated by means of a damper or otherdevice 90,

-Figs. 1 and 5, desirably having a counterweighted chain or cable 91passing over a sheave or roller 92, Fig. 5.

It will be understood that all parts of the furnace exposed to theaction of the heat are constructed of fire-brick or other refractorymaterial, and the other parts may be built of ordinary brick and may bebraced by buckstaves or rods.

By constructing the bottom or floor of the incinerating chamber 58 withopenings 68 having inclined walls the ashes from the burned bodies willbe directed into the ashpan 69, beneath which said walls preferablyoverhang, Fig. 15; but these openings also cause a downdraft of theflame or heated medium around the body being cremated and out throughthe ash-chamber, there by greatly aiding the consumption thereof.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from theforegoing description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and the following explanation thereof.

To prepare for a cremation, the furnace must first be brought to aglowing-red heat, and for this purpose the burners in the firechambers61 and 62 are lighted. The heat from the burner passes through thelatter chamber to and against the break-wall 63, at the front endthereof, where the flame orheated medium is retarded and caused to passthrough the checker-brick thereof and out through the opening in thewall 60, up into the flue above the ineinerating-chamber 58, thenceagain to the rear of the furnace, where the flame or heated medium isdirected downwardly into the vertical fine 73 at the end of theincinerating-chamber 58, Fig. 4:. and into and through the uppercombustion-chamber 71., thereby heating the radiator-tubes therein,again to the front of the furnace, where it descends into and traversesthe lower combustion-chamber 73 until it asecond time returns to therear end of the furnace and passes into the flue 74 and thence into thestack or chimney.

The flame or heated medium from the burner traverses the fire-chamber 61to and against the break-wall 63, at the front end thereof, through saidwall and through an opening 61 in the wall 60, into theincinerating-chamber 58, therethrough to the rear of the furnace, intothe vertical flue 73, through the combustion-chambers 71 and 7 3successively, to the flue 7 i, to the stack or chimney.

The fresh air enters through the passage 81 at each side of the furnace,passes in to the rear end of the lower warmi ng-chambers 78 and 79,through the latter to the front of the furnace, and up into and throughthe upper warmingchambers 7 5 and 76 and back to the starting position.Thence the air heated by its passage just described and by contact withthe radiatortubcs 82 in said warming-chambers passes up through thedampers 83 and the apertured partitions 84, Fig. 6, into thelire-chambers just below the burners.

The transverse duct 89, extending across the rear end of the furnacefrom one upper combustion-chamber to the other, tends to equalize theamount of heated air furnished to the burners.

hen the furnace has attained the required temperature, the fires orburners are extinguished in both chambers, and upon a given signal theattendant raises the heavy front furnace-door 27 by means of the crankand winch 41 and also the mask-door, whereupon the body, preferablywithin the casket, is pushed into the inci-nerating-chamber 58 over theroller 30, when upon another signal the attendant rapidly closes themask-door and then the furnace-door 27, whereupon all view of thefurnace is cut off.

The whole operation is performed so quickly and orderly that only a fewmoments elapse during which the interior of the furnace is exposed toview and the furnace is closed before the casket begins to burn.

A fierce combustion of the casket and body ensues, which continues forsome time. hen that begins to subside, the burner in the firechamber 62may be started again and the heat of the furnace maintained until theprocess of cremation is completed without bringing the body into contactwith the flame from the burners.

If for any reason it is desired to still further expedite the process,the burner in the firc-,

ber, or, if a pan has previously been placed in position, into the pan,which may afterward be withdrawn with the ashes.

One effect of the openings in the floor of the incinerating-chamber isthat the downwardacting draft of the furnace draws the flames producedin the chamber down through said openings and through the ash-chamber,as through a flue, thereby assisting the incineration by bringing thefire into closer contact around and under the body.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is illustrated amodified form of the construction hereinbefore described and shownwherein one fire-chamber, together with the flue over theincincrating-chamber, is omitted, the heat from the one fire-chamberpassing directly into and through the incinerating-chamber; but in otherrespects the construction and operation is substantially similar to thatdescribed in relation to the other figures of the drawings.

In the modification the air preferably enters through the flue orpassage 81 into the rear end of the lower warming-chamber 7 9, throughthat chamber to the front of the furnace, into the upper chamber 76, andback to the rear of the furnace, thence up through the damper 83,through the vertical ducts, into the firechamber 61, along the same toand through the break-wall 63, thence through an opening in the wallinto the front end of the incinerating-chamber 58, through the same backto the rear of the furnace, thence down through the vertical flue 7 3,into and through the up- .per and lower combustion-chambers 71 and 7 3,respectively, via the fine 74 to the stack or chimney, as will bereadily understood.

It is not desired to confine this invention to the specificconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts herein shown anddescribed, and the right is reserved to make all such changes in andmodifications of the same as come within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim 1. A furnace provided with an incineratingchamber, having anapertured bottom or floor and means constructed to cause the consumingmedium to pass along the outside of said chamber and. return over anddown through said apertures opposite the initial direction thereof.

2. A furnace provided with an incineratingchamber having an aperturedbottom or floor and an inlet, an ash-chamber below saidincincrating-chamber and means for directing the flame or consumingmedium through said inlet into said incinerating-chamber and causing aportion of the same to traverse the latter and a portion to pass downthrough said apertures and then traverse said ash-chamber in the samedirection as in the incinerating- IIO chamber to quickly and completelyconsume the body.

3. A furnace provided with an incineratingchamber, a fire-chamberalongside thereof and means constructed to cause a consuming medium fromthe fire-chamber to traverse the roof or ceiling of theincinerating-chamber to heat the same and to pass downwardly across theend thereof.

4. Afurnace provided with an incineratingchamber, a fire-chamberalongside thereof, a flue above said' incinerating chamber and means tocause the consuming medium to traverse the firechamber, enter and passthrough said flue and finally pass downwardly across the end of saidincinerating-chamber.

5. A furnace provided with a fire-chamber having a brake-wall, anincinerating-chamber adjacent to the fire-chamber, a flue chamber orpassage above the incinerating-chamber and means to cause the consumingmedium to traverse the fire-chamber and pass through said wall into saidflue and return above and heat said incinerating-chamber.

6. A furnace provided with an incineratingchamber, a lateralfire-chamber in connection with one end thereof, a combustion-chamberbelow the incinerating-chamber, and means for causing the consumingmedium to traverse the fire-chamber and pass into theincinerating-chamber and return in a reverse direction therethrough andbe directed downwardly at the end thereof into and through thecombustion-chamber.

7. A furnace provided with an incineratingchamber, a lateralfire-chamber in communi cation therewith, a brake-wall in thefirechamber and means for impelling a consuming medium against said walland through said communication into the incineratingchamber, saidincinerating-chamber being so constructed as to return the consumingmedium in a reverse direction therethrough and to cause the same to passdownwardly at the end thereof.

8. A furnace provided with an incineratingchamber, a fire-chamberalongside thereof, provided with an outlet above theincinerating-chamber, so that the heating medium is caused to pass over,and heat the same, and another fire-chamber having an outlet openinginto the incinerating-chamber, said incinerating-chamber being adaptedto receive and discharge the products from said fire-cham ber.

9. Afurnace provided with an incineratingchamber, a fire-chamberalongside thereof provided with an outlet above theincinerating-ehamber, whereby the heating medium is caused to pass overand heat the same and another fire-chamber having an opening into theincinerating-chamber, whereby said medium is caused to pass into andthrough the latter and a combustion-chamber constructed to receive theaforesaid currents of said medium which pass thereinto from and acrossthe end of said incinerating-chamber.

10. A furnace provided with an incinerating-chamber, fire-chambers, onewhereof is provided with an outlet above the incinerating-chamber,whereby the heating medium is caused to pass over and heat the same andthe other fire-chamber having an outlet opening into theincinerating-chamber, said incinerating-chamber being adapted to receiveand discharge the products from said fire-chamber, and an upper and alower combustion-chamber constructed to receive the aforesaid currentsof said medium which pass thereinto from and across the end of saidincineratingchamber.

11. A furnace provided with upper and lower combustion-chambersconstructed to receive and pass to the chimney the currents of theconsuming medium, upper and lower warming-chambers and radiator-tubesconstructed and arranged to receive heat from th e combustion-chambers,whereby the incoming air for supporting combustion is conveyed throughsaid warming-chambers successively and heated from said tubes.

12. A furnace provided with an upper and lower combustion-chamberwherethrough the heating medium is caused to pass successively to thechimney, adjoining upper and lower warming-chambers, tubes having thelarge open ends thereof opening into the combustion-chambers andextending across the warming-c'narnbers and means for conducting airinto the lower warming-chamber and causing the same to pass therethroughand return through the upper warming-chamber so as to be heated by suchpassage in contact with said tubes to facilitate combustion.

13. A furnace provided with an ignition device, a lower warming-chamberreceiving the fresh air and a superimposed warming-chamher directlyabove, receiving the partiallyheated air from the first-mentionedchamber and further heating the same and delivering the heated air tosaid device.

14. A furnace provided with an ignition device, a fire -chamberreceiving direct heat therefrom, upper and lower combustion-chambersreceiving waste heat, upper and lowerwarming-chambers receiving heatfrom said fire and combustion chambers and constructed to heat theincoming air and deliver the same to said device.

15. A furnace provided with an incinerating-chamber, fire-chambers oneach side thereof, combustion-chambers below the incinerating-chambersand warming-chambers below the [ire-chambers and on each side of thecombustion-chambers, whereby the consuming medium is caused to traverseone of the firechambers and return above the incinerating- LTI chamberand pass down into the combustion-chambers and the medium passes throughthe other fire-chamber and into and through the incinerating-chamber andthence to the combustion-chamber with the first-mentioned current ofsaid medium and heats the incoming air that traverses saidWarming-chamber.

lntestimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY E. BRETT. ARTHUR B. BENTON.

Witnesses: V

AMELIA GUEST, L. B. ALDERETE.

